As you know, a tooth consists of two major parts. The top portion is known as the crown. It’s the visible part of your tooth that lies about the gumline. The other component is known as the root, which descends below the soft tissues and extends into the jawbone. The root anchors the tooth in position. The root canal system stretches from the crown to the root end. It contains the dental pulp, which includes the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. You may be required to get a root canal treatment if your dental X-rays show that the pulp has been infected.
4 Warning Signs Of Tooth Infection
An infection at the center of your tooth can be due to decay, leaky dental fillings, or damage caused by trauma. With root canal treatment, your dentist can treat the disease and save your tooth from extraction. If you’re unsure when you should get a root canal treatment, here are the signs you need to watch out for:
Severe Tooth Pain. Pain is one of the key indicators that something’s not right with the root of your tooth. Do you struggle to carry out everyday activities like eating without pain? If so, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible. This way, they can take a look at your aching tooth and determine if your nerves or blood vessels have a bacterial infection.
Sensitivity to Hot and Cold. Another common sign is you experiencing tooth pain when you drink hot or cold foods and beverages. The unpleasant sensation can range from a mere dull ache to sharp, intense pain. Also, does it hurt whenever you try to put pressure on your tooth? If that sensitivity lasts for weeks or even months, a root canal may be necessary.
Dark, Tender, or Swollen Gums. If your tooth is infected, it will start to decay, and so will your gums. The darkening of gums is a warning sign of decayed gums. If your gums are also swollen and tender to the touch, or even without contact, a root canal treatment may be required.
Chipped or Cracked Tooth. These are two-fold manifestations of a tooth that can benefit from a root canal treatment. First, an accident or trauma likely resulted in the damage, causing the pulp to become inflamed. Or perhaps, the tooth may be in deep decay that it broke from being worn. Either way, you will likely require a root canal.
If your tooth gets infected, the dental pulp will not heal by itself. Neglecting an infected tooth will only make your condition worse. There’s also the risk of the root canal treatment becoming less effective if the disease has already progressed.
Do you have a toothache? Don’t wait for a possible tooth infection to go undetected and make matters more detrimental to your health. Visit Stephanie R. Ricks Family Dentistry today to book your dental examination. Call our clinic in McComb, Mississippi, at (601) 258-8230 and see if you’re a good candidate for a root canal.